IIT Bombay has chosen uttarias or khadi angavastrams, for its convocation ceremony of the passing out batch. The Indian Institute of Technology has placed an order for 3,500 convocation robes made of khadi cotton, inculcating the feeling of nationalism in the students. The students will drape the piece of cloth over their clothes to mark the occasion

What is khadi?

Khadi is a hand-woven cloth mainly made out of cotton. The cloth is primarily woven from cotton and may also include silk, or wool, which are all spun into yarn on a spinning wheel called a charkha.

Why was such a move taken?

PM Modi has been promoting the use of khadi especially through his monthly radio address, Mann ki Baat to increase its use so as to revive the traditional textile industry

IIT-Bombay director Devang Khakhar said, ''The move is aimed at evoking a feeling of nationalism in students as Khadi is a "national symbol"

Similar directives given earlier:

Earlier, Gujarat Technological University made Khadi compulsory for its convocation. Last year in July, the University Grants Commission (UGC) also issued a circular to all the affiliated universities and colleges, requesting them to consider using handloom for ceremonial dresses prescribed for special occasions such as convocation.

"After Gujarat University, now khadi has also made a niche in the hearts of authorities of premier Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay," the
ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises said in a statement